New Music: Joesef

Meet the soulful singer-songwriter crafting songs from his Glasgow bedroom.

Ticketmaster New Music is a carefully curated selection, showcasing artists we are expecting to make waves in the live music scene. Working closely with record labels, live event promoters and talent agents, our in-house experts handpick the most exciting emerging music.

Only three singles into his career, Glasgow music maker Joesef has started to capture the imagination of the music streaming public with his heartfelt brand of soul-pop.

In August, the East End musician released his latest track, the bruising Don’t Give In. As the line, “Don’t know how much more I can take” hits, listeners will immediately feel the pain in Joesef’s voice. This is the sound of a thoroughly authentic artist, who’s willing to bare his soul in every word he sings.

Joesef - Don't Give In (Official Audio)

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Originally planning on bartending as a career, Joesef came out swinging earlier this year with the release of sultry debut single Limbo. The track, which wouldn’t sound out of place on the latest Lana Del Rey record combines Joesef’s emotional lyrics with a touch of the classic Motown sound. Bartending’s loss… is music’s gain.

Follow-up single Loverboy – about running into an ex at a party – carries on where Limbo left off. The track excellently conveys how running into an ex-lover for the first time post-breakup can shake your confidence, leaving you to act differently to how you’re feeling on the inside. The song received airplay from BBC Radio 1’s Annie Mac, and Apple Music named Joesef as their Artist of the Week.

It’s a strong start from an artist who has already received a lot of hype. His debut gig at Glasgow’s world-famous King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut sold out before he released a lick of music, and although only at the very beginning of his career, Joesef has already been compared favourably to the late, great Amy Winehouse.

Other comparisons have been made to fellow Scot Lewis Capaldi. On the face of it their music is not too similar, although both manage to tell deeply personal tales of love and loss that are made to be sung along to in big venues across the country.

Making everything himself, Joesef is currently putting the finishing touches to his debut EP, due for release in October 2019.

The musician has also confirmed a run of UK headline shows taking place later this year, including a huge hometown date at Glasgow’s SWG3 in December.